Changes in Maternal Blood Glucose and Plasma Non-Esterified Fatty Acid during Pregnancy and around Parturition in Twin and Single Fetus Bearing Crossbred Goats

Abstract

The effects of fetal number (single or twin) on blood glucose and plasma NEFA during pregnancy and around parturition were studied on ten Alpine × Beetal crossbred goats in their first to third lactation. The animals were divided in-groups 1(carrying single fetus, n=4) and 2(twin fetus, n=6). The samples were drawn on day1 after estrus and then at 14 days interval (fortnight) for 10 fortnights. Around parturition the samples were taken on days -20, -15, -10, -5, -4, -3, -2, -1 prior to kidding and on day 0 and +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +10, +15, +20 days post kidding. In twin bearing goats the blood glucose concentration continued to increase from 1st until 4th fortnight and thereafter gradually decline from 5th upto 8th fortnight. In single bearing goats there was increase in levels from 2nd upto 4th fortnight and thereafter it declined from 5th uptill 9th fortnight. The difference in sampling interval was highly significant (p<0.01) in both the groups. However the values were higher in single than in twin bearing goats. The plasma NEFA concentration was low in both the groups' upto 4th fortnight and thereafter it is continuously increased upto 9th fortnight. During prepartum period the blood glucose was higher in single than in twin bearing goats. The values were minimum on the day of kidding in both the groups. During postpartum period the values were significantly (p<0.01) higher in twin than in single fetus bearing goats. The plasma NEFA was significantly (p<0.05) higher in twin than in single fetus bearing goats. The blood glucose and plasma NEFA concentration can be used as index of nutritional status during pregnancy and around parturition in goats.

Metabolic indicators for early pregnancy in zebu and crossbreddairy cows reared in a subtropical climate

“…Decreased plasma NEFA concentrations during early pregnancy have also been found in goats (26), which is in agreement with our results. NEFA concentrations are assumed to be the best indicators of energy balance in cows (30) as there is a direct physiological relationship between NEFA concentrations and negative energy balance (31).…”

“…The nonsignificant increase of glucose in our experiment might be due to the homeostatic control of glucose concentrations in dairy cows as the nutrition partitioning towards milk production is higher. During early pregnancy, the demand of the fetus is also low, resulting in less glucose use (26).…”

Steroid hormonal endpoints in goats carrying single or twin fetuses reared in semi-extensive systems

“…Nevertheless, in Surti goats no significantly higher E 2 values were observed in twin gestations than single-bearing mothers (Gamit et al, 2019). On the other hand, a low level of E 2 was recorded in twin compared to single pregnancy in crossbred goats by Khan and Ludri (2002a). The simultaneous changes in maternal circulating E 2 , P 4 , and cortisol concentrations during the periparturient period in goats carrying single and twin fetuses were also observed, with the highest P 4 values in twin-bearing goats (Khan and Ludri, 2002b;de Souza Castagnino et al, 2015) and the highest E 2 and cortisol values on the day of kidding in both single and twin pregnancies (Khan and Ludri, 2002b).…”

Changes in plasma biochemical parameters and hormones during transition period in Beetal goats carrying single and twin fetus

“…Furthermore, reports are very scanty to Indian breeds and difference in physiology with respect to twins and single kid bearing goats, particularly in Beetal breed. Blood profile and production performance can vary with twin or single fetus in goats [ 4 ]. Therefore, physiological blood serum-specific chemical reference parameters and their variation should be established in purebred and crossbred dairy female goats under intensive farming system [ 5 , 6 ].…”